Ralphs Employees Robbed at Gun Point Monday Night

Mary O'Keefe

An armed gunman entered the La Cañada's Ralphs Market at 521 Foothill Blvd. on Monday night and demanded money from the cash registers.

Crescenta Valley Sheriff's Detective Keith Gibbons said a man wearing a dark-colored, hooded sweatshirt and a mask, "or something covering his face where only his eyes were seen" entered the store around 8:30 p.m. and demanded money from the cashiers. He produced a handgun and went from register to register demanding the employees put money into a white plastic grocery bag.

The employees did as they were told. Before the suspect left the store he ordered the victims to lie face down on the ground, Gibbons said.

According Gibbons there appeared to be no customers present at the front of the store when the robbery occurred. The investigation is ongoing.

Ralphs had video surveillance in place during the robbery. "I have yet to view the video surveillance tape," Gibbons said.

A manager at Ralphs had no comment on the robbery, but he did confirm that any employee who has been involved in anything traumatic, such as a robbery, is offered counseling.

The robbery suspect was described only as a dark- skinned man. Anyone who has information regarding the crime should contact the Crescenta Valley Sheriff's Station at 248-3454.